SENIOR WRITER & PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

MEDIA COMM SPEC 3 CM (005378)

UCPath Position ID: 40817051

Position Description History/Status

For Reference ONLY - PeopleAdmin JA Number:

1117565

Approved Date:

7/29/2026 2:13:54 PM

Date Last Edited:

7/29/2026 2:13:52 PM

Last Action Effective Date:

12/1/2021

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

1130O

Organization:

HENRY SAMUELI SCHOOL ENGR & APPL SCIENCE

Division Code:

1131D

Division:

ENGINEERING & APPLIED SCIEN DIV        

Department:

011500 - DEAN, SEAS

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

40817051

Position Description ID

171004

UC Payroll Title:

MEDIA COMM SPEC 3 CM (005378)

Personnel Program

Professional and Support Staff (PSS)

Salary Grade:

STEPS

Job Code FLSA:

Exempt

Union Code (Collective Bargaining Unit):

CM: Comms, Mktg, & Sales Profs

Employee Relations Code:

E: All Others - Not Confidential

Employee Class (Appt Type):

2 - Staff: Career

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

1

SUPERVISION

UCPath Reports to Position Number:

40057567

Reports to Payroll Title:

COMM MGR 1

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40047801

Department Head Payroll Title:

DEAN

GENERAL SUPERVISION - Indicates that the incumbent develops procedures for performance of variety of duties; or performs complex duties within established policy guidelines.

POSITION SUMMARY

In collaboration with the Assistant Dean, Chief Marketing Communications Officer (CMO) and other members on the school's Communications team, the Senior Writer and Public Information Officer (PIO) will leverage their substantial media relationships and the school's media-monitoring platform to develop a strategic media relations plan with minimal supervision. This includes developing and maintaining the general/trade/topic-specific media lists for UCLA Samueli, finding compelling news-worthy pitches from research and other school activities, working with traditional and digital-media journalists to identify story ideas suitable for our faculty and/or students, positioning select faculty experts as go-to sources for target media outlets, formalizing a proactive and strategic program designed to generate consistent and positive external news coverage, etc. UCLA Engineering faculty are at the forefront of many exciting research areas, including robotics, artificial intelligence/machine learning, computational medicine, climate change, sustainability, quantum computing, data sciences, cryptography and many other emerging technologies. The PIO will gain a deep understanding and knowledge of target journalists' beats and faculty expertise to identify opportunities for media briefing and interviews on an ongoing basis.The Senior Writer/PIO is a seasoned communications professional responsible for writing and editing electronic publications, web content and social media posts. Additional writing duties in support of the Communications team include web features, event invitations, research press releases, op-eds, student and alumni profiles, monthly e-newsletters, marketing materials, presentations, school announcements and other content as directed by CMO. The PIO will assist CMO in drafting speeches and talking points for both internal and external speaking engagements of key school leadership.The PIO will coordinate with the Communications team to post on the school's main social media channels, including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn to ensure proactive and consistent messaging throughout the school. Working with CMO, the PIO will also be responsible for developing and implementing a proactive public-relations program, including a UCLA Samueli speaker's bureau, to raise visibility for the Dean and other key leadership in the school.UCLA Samueli is embarking on a strategic plan to grow the school, with an emphasis on attracting top faculty from diverse backgrounds around the world and setting the standard for undergraduate and graduate engineering education in an equitable and inclusive way. This position is expected to play a key role in the success of that strategic plan by elevating the school's brand among its many constituents.

Execute media relations strategy with emphasis on reporter relationship building and story pitching

1. Develop and maintain primary relationships with reporters on behalf of UCLA Samueli. Ensure we are interacting with the right reporters to further School messaging. 2. Identify stories among faculty and labs that support the CMO's communications strategy and secure coverage in regional, national and international mainstream media. 3. Establish and maintain media resource database for faculty that motivates reporters to contact UCLA Samueli whenever they are working on an article that relates to an area of faculty expertise. 4. Stay abreast of relevant science and technology news and insert UCLA into media discussion when appropriate. 5. Work with UCLA Permitting to coordinate on-campus film and video requests. 6. Generate and report on monthly metrics that demonstrate effectiveness of media relations activities. 7. Work with Communications team colleagues to highlight media coverage in School's social media accounts to reach the widest audience possible. 8. Create monthly HEADLINES" e-newsletter with the Communications colleague to highlight UCLA Samueli media coverage. 9. Consult with CMO on editorial directions, potential crisis communications issues and other sensitive inquiries from the media to maintain positive UCLA Samueli brand impression. 10. Attend campus media relations meetings on behalf of CMO to pitch story ideas across campus."

35%

Write and edit School content, social media posts and draft key speeches

1. Write and/or edit school press releases, feature articles, remarks, op-eds and announcement as assigned. 2. Work with Communications team colleagues and other units to edit web and other content as assigned. 3. Write and post content on School's social media channels to gain additional visibility for UCLA Samueli.

35%

Develop a strategic public relations program including a speaker's bureau

1. With high-level input from CMO, develop a strategic public relations program, identifying key advertising opportunities and speaking platform on topics that will position the School and the dean as a leader in Engineering education and that clarifies the Dean's vision for the school among our target audience groups. 2. Identify and confirm speaking opportunities for dean, ensuring venue and audience are reflective of the goals of UCLA Engineering. 3. With high-level input from CMO, draft remarks and speaker notes for speaking opportunities. Attend events to ensure smooth execution, gauge presentation effectiveness and continually improve content provided to the dean. 4. Publicize speaking engagements in traditional and social media to further enhance message delivery to targeted audiences. 5. With high-level input from CMO and other Communications colleagues, identify effective advertising venues and make sure messaging for advertising campaigns is consistent with School's overall branding.

20%

Other Assignments

1. Draft/edit invitations and other event-related content to support Development team efforts and as directed by the CMO. 2. Draft marketing campaigns and/or scripts for special event videos. 3. Other assignments as directed by the CMO. (E)

10%

•

Performs other duties as assigned.

•

Complies with all policies and standards.

•

Complies with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Principles of Community.

•

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree

journalism, communications or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience

Required

A minimum of five (5) years of full-time professional experience in journalism and media relations, with demonstrated success in working with print, broadcast and electronic news outlets

Required

Strong relationships with mainstream science and technology reporters, both regionally (Los Angeles) nationally and internationally.

Required

Superior newsroom writing (AP Style) and editing skills; proven track record of translating technical and scientific research into compelling content for general audiences.

Required

Experience spearheading high-profile media events and fielding a large number of incoming media inquiries.

Required

Expertise in identifying, capturing and delivering media relations metrics to demonstrate ROI.

Required

Advanced knowledge of working with social media to build and strengthen School brand.

Required

Ability to think creatively and critically; prioritize workload efficiently in the face of competing deadlines and fluctuating priorities; effectively work with a team in a fast-paced setting with a positive, can-do attribute and impeccable professionalis

Required

Ability to attend evening and weekend events occasionally to facilitate media coverage and other communication needs.

Required

Experience working in PR agency, in-house communications, and/or nonprofit with ability to handle high pressure and deadline-driven tasks.

Required

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

Age Requirement: Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible to be hired.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

BOELTER HALL

Standing/Walking

X

X

Sitting

X

X

Bending/Stooping

X

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

Climbing

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 0-25 lbs

X

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 26-50 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull over 50 lbs

X

Physical requirements other

X

Chemicals, dust, gases, or fumes

X

Loud noise levels

X

Marked changes in humidity or temperature

X

Microwave/Radiation

X

Operating motor vehicles and/or equipment

X

Exposures other

X

Sustained attention and concentration

X

X

Complex problem solving/reasoning

X

X

Ability to organize & prioritize

X

X

Communication skills

X

X

Numerical skills

X

X

Mental demands other

X

X

Classification 3:  Position in which exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues is not part of the position description. The normal routine task involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues and the employee can decline to perform tasks which involve a perceived risk without retribution.